Prince William's Earthshot Prize Brings British Pop Royalty to India for Historic Performance

The Prince of Wales is gearing up for a star-studded evening as the Earthshot Prize announces that one of Britain's biggest boy bands will perform at its awards ceremony in Mumbai alongside A-List Hollywood royalty.

PRINCE William's Earthshot Prize has announced that a huge British pop group will perform at its 2026 awards ceremony in Mumbai, India, on November 17.

Take That will join the prestigious international line-up of musicians, actors and environmental leaders for one of the organisation's biggest events to date. The Prince of Wales, 44, is preparing to bring his environmental initiative to India for the first time, as the ceremony aims to celebrate innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Take That, one of Britain's most successful pop groups, will make their Indian performance debut at the ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the band more than three decades after they first rose to fame.

The group, made up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, are known for global hits including Patience and Rule the World, and have sold more than 45 million records worldwide. Together, they have achieved 12 UK number-one singles and nine UK number-one albums. The track Back for Good peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1995.

Announcing their involvement, the band excitedly remarked: "We've been lucky enough to perform in some incredible places around the world over the past 35 years, but India is somewhere we've always dreamed of bringing our music."

They continued: "To be performing here for the very first time, after all these years, and alongside the extraordinary people creating a better future for our planet - is really special."

Reflecting on the power of music to unite audiences, they added: "As we've seen the world over, music has an exquisite way of bringing people together, and we can't wait to share that magic with The Earthshot Prize and the world from Mumbai. We're ready for a night we'll never forget."

The announcement also confirmed that acclaimed Indian composer and music producer Shashwat Sachdev, a two-time National Film Award winner, will perform at the highly-anticipated ceremony.

Sachdev, whose work draws on India's musical traditions and cultural heritage, said he was grateful to be joining the Earthshot Prize and explained the personal significance of performing at an event dedicated to protecting the natural world.

"So much of my music comes from the land I belong to and the traditions that have been passed down to me," he said. "For me, caring for that land is also a way of honouring what I've been given."

He confirmed that his performance would feature music from his catalogue, Shades of Cashmere, adding: "This music carries so much of the country I come from, and it means a great deal to share it on this stage."

"I hope people feel the beauty of our land through what they hear, wherever in the world they call home. That would make the evening very special for me."

The two musical acts will join an international guest list including Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor, singer Shreya Ghoshal, Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley and Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek.

Sachdev added: "So much of my music comes from the land I belong to and the traditions that have been passed down to me," he said. "For me, caring for that land is also a way of honouring what I've been given."

He confirmed that his performance would feature music from his catalogue, Shades of Cashmere, adding: "This music carries so much of the country I come from, and it means a great deal to share it on this stage.

"I hope people feel the beauty of our land through what they hear, wherever in the world they call home. That would make the evening very special for me."

Renowned Indian filmmaker and television personality Karan Johar will host the awards ceremony, while Earthshot Prize ambassadors Robert Irwin and Nomzamo Mbatha are also expected to attend.

Approximately 5,000 guests are expected to gather in Mumbai for the event, which is being sponsored by the Serum Institute of India.

Jason Knauf, Chief Executive Officer of The Earthshot Prize, welcomed the announcement, describing the upcoming ceremony as an opportunity to highlight both the challenges facing the environment and the progress being achieved by innovators around the world.

"This year in Mumbai, we're telling the biggest story in the world," he said. "It's a story of the immense challenges facing our planet, but also the amazing progress that extraordinary people - scientists, innovators, activists and leaders -can make possible."

Knauf added: "2026 will be the biggest and best Earthshot Prize Awards Night yet, and we're thrilled to have music legends, Take That, join us in Mumbai to celebrate the people who drive forward The Earthshot Prize's mission."

For the first time, the ceremony will be distributed internationally through Prime Video, the initiative's exclusive streaming partner and a founding partner, with coverage planned across more than 240 countries and territories in over 40 languages.

The evening will also reveal the five winners of the 2026 Earthshot Prize, selected from 15 finalists whose work includes community-led environmental initiatives, conservation projects and technology-based climate solutions.

Each winner will receive £1 million to help develop and expand their work across the initiative's five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.